"I think they're outrageous," said Mike Scheid, 59. "You have to
do what you've got to do. Am I going on any long trips these days?
Probably not. But you have to go to the grocery store and you have
to go here and you have to go there and pay bills and work and
everything else."

Scheid, who is employed by Spencer 4 Hire Roofing, said he
depends on his work van to get him to work. It can cost about $75
to fill it up.

"Following continued unrest in the Middle East and a
considerable rise in crude prices, motorists can expect the price
of gasoline at the pump to rise in the coming days," said Linda
Gorman, director of communications and public affairs for AAA
Arizona.

Nationwide the cost of gas is at $3.287 per gallon, according to
AAA, and is increasing daily. Phoenix residents are paying an
average of $3.263. A year ago, gas in Phoenix cost around $2.61 per
gallon.

In fact, Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for
gasbuddy.com, says he expects prices to come near $4 per gallon by
Memorial Day.

"It does bother me a lot," Johnnie Cunningham said as she filled
up her minivan. "I am retired; I have a fixed income. I think it's
ridiculous. You've got to get to where you've got to get. There
isn't a bus route that satisfies. Besides that, I can't walk well
enough to get to a bus stop so I really have no choice."

Though residents may not have a choice about buying gas, they
can do a few things to try and conserve it. Gorman suggests finding
cheaper gas prices but avoiding driving great lengths to save a few
pennies. Keeping tires properly inflated improves gas mileage, but
Gorman cautions to follow the gas pressure mentioned in your car's
manual rather than what is on the tire. Finally, going the speed
limit will conserve gas as well. This includes avoiding abrupt
starts and stops and idling in traffic. Combining errands into one
trip will help save a few dollars, too, she said.

There are plenty of websites that aim to help residents find the
cheapest gas possible. Phoenixgasprices.com, a branch of
gasbuddy.com, has a complete list of gas prices with a map to show
where the stations are located. The website also offers 10 tips for
saving fuel.